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AMEX Pro Cycling 2013
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 14-10-2012 22:01
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AMEX is a newly promoted development team that finished 2nd in the D2 in 2012 season. 8 of our 14 riders were from the USA. We were team that thrived when the gradients increased. As the D2 season hit the mid-point we were ranked about 5th/6th but as the races turned uphill so did our results.
We completed 2 or our 3 D2 goals with a Win at the Tour of Utah (Tony Colby) and a top 10 finish at Clover Lowveld (Carlos Ospina-2nd and Tareq Esmaeli-8th). Unfortunately we failed on our 3rd goal of getting 6 Top 5 finishes in the D2 Classics. We managed several Top 10's, but only 3 Top 5's.
We had two team goals entering the season. To finish in the Top 5 of the team standings (we finished 2nd) and to get promoted.
There are now 9 ex-D2 managers who have just wandered over from the wading pool. Looking down we see the PCT pool is much, much deeper. The game has changed signicantly. It's time to change and adapt - drownding in not an option.
AMEXpc is currently conducting a review of our roster. Several decisions have been made but a few others are still pending the new riders release.
The following two riders have already been offered contracts for 2013:
Tareq Esmaeli (Quatar) has raced for 4 seasons now.
2009 Slipstream (CT)
2010 Oylmpus-Air Asia (CT)
2011 Petronaas-Olympus (CT)
2012 American Express (D2)
In 2011 Esmaeli was the Quatar National Road Race Champion
In 2012 Esmaeli is the Quatar National Time Trial Champion
Maher Hasnaoui (Tunisia) has completed his 1st season of racing.
2012 American Express (D2)
In 2012 Hasnaoui won the Tunisian National Road Race.
The following 9 riders have already been notified that thier contracts will NOT be renewed for the 2013 season
Carlos Ospina
Anthony Colby
Matthew Crane
Adonis Cardoso-Espanola
Lucas Euser
Bradley Huff
Jonathan Patrick McCarty
Phil Zajicek
Scott Zwizanski
That leaves us with 3 riders who are still being evaluated.
Rudiger Selig
Bart Veyt
David Talbot
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AMEXpc expects to be contacting several PT teams to inquire about riders who may be a better fit for the new PCT than continuing thier careers on the PT. We will also be considering 1 or 2 loan-in riders who could benefit by gaining expereince in the PCT.
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AMEXpc would like to keep American core, but that will have to depend on how many American riders will be available during the transfer season and how the newest USA riders test out when the visit our Salt Lake City training facility. |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 14-10-2012 22:08
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Americans Brad Armstrong & Craig Lewis continue to pull at our leg asking if AMEX would be interested in them since their time at CSC looks up?
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| tyriion |
Posted on 15-10-2012 07:01
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Seligs future uncertain
Following statements about the 2013 season by the AMEX management Rüdiger Seligs future looks to be uncertain in America. Meanwhile Team UPC have added a German sponsor to the team who will look to expand the German interest in cycling. Maybe this could be a new home for the young German sprinter?
Check out my ManGame team here
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 15-10-2012 21:33
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"I miss home" was one of lines took from a recent interview which Jason Donald gave to a small Dutch newspaper. In the past 2 years, the American has been a very important element in the time - trial train set up by Jack Wolfskin. But, with a new sponsor coming, Jason feels his role in the team might become less significant and says that a transfer is very likely.
"Racing in your home country is the perfect way to end your career. Considering that I'm not getting any younger, I really consider returning to an American team." Jason Donald said. He added that "the new AMEX project looks very interesting and if they need an experienced old dog, I would be more than glad to help them".
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 19-10-2012 13:42
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Promoting into the PCT for 2013 has triggered a very exciting week for AMEX. Access to riders that were not available to us last season including some very big names and talents, sent us on a flurry of exploration searching the rosters of the disbanded teams. We started to collect a list of names and it became longer and longer, but two key problems keep our excitment from becoming a plan. All of the riders we saw as leaders of the new AMEXpc were riders we could not afford (unless our overall budget was going to be 3.5M. The second concern was none of the top riders available from the disbanded teams were Americans.
When that reality set in that all of the top American riders resided on two teams that were very unlikely to give any of them up unless they cannot resign them. Of course if they cannot re-sign them AMEX will not be able to afford them either.
Next we went on a review of last years transfer season to see what costs were to acquire a decent rider from another team in the transfer season. Those costs seemed high, but most of the teams were not start up teams and did not have to sign 20+ riders.
I know the former D2 managers pretty well after a year competing with them. We all made mistakes during the D2 tansfer season (except maybe Het-Nieuwsblad) and we all made less than ideal race planner choices. That said, those rookie errors are very unlikely to be repeated. The 9 former D2 teams will be competing for all of the best young prospects along with the other 41 PT, PCT and CT teams.
Some are speculating that prices for those newest riders will escallate. Last year the best of the best new prospects seemed to be signed between 150-300K.
The former D2 teams are faced with some very serious, future affecting decisions as they enter thier first real transfer season.
One option is to spend the big money and try to sign a strong leader. The best of the best will demand 1M and no PCT or CT team can handle a salary that large, so just the 2nd tier leaders will be our targets and those will still appear to be in the 450-600K range. Taking the "Big Splurge" option would leave the rest of the team with few consistent point earners and relagation would be a real possibility. Dropping to the CT next year is not the threat but the reduced salary cap in the CT would more than likely force you to divest your "Big Slurge" rider. So splurge big -- relagate then loose your leader. That sounds like a lost season and then a longer hill to climb on your way to the PT.
The opposite approach is to go for every young talent you can sign. I suspect you could get 5 or 6 top young prospects but then you would have an almost 100% chance to get pushed out of the PCT at seasons end. However once in the CT you could keep maybe three of your best prospects and you could very likely move the others easily in the transfer season, so the "YOUTH" option while a long slow hill to climb looks much better than the "Big Splurge" option.
I can think of several vatiations of those two diverse choices and the rest of the former D2 managers will explore them all.
AMEXpc is planning on a hybred plan. Go after two of the best new prospects we can sign. In the long run training more than 2 at a time would be too costly, so 2 prospects per year sounds like a good balance.
Next we need to be very selective about the riders we seek to sign. Getting in bidding wars will just hurt our growth in the long run. So finding niche riders, from the non-elite countries and getting the best riders we can for the money we invest will be key.
We also need to explore the soft spots in the division. What I mean by that are finding which talents are the most and the least competative in the PCT. What skill level for each type of rider can earn points. Many of the veterns are telling us that solid Hill riders 77/78 can earn points but if we all head in that direction each of us might get 1 rider like that.
In addition to the soft spots in the divisions talent we also need to explore the soft races where our weaker riders will have a better chance to score some points.
So what is AMEX's strategy going to be ?
The answer to that is what everybody else is not going to do. Older riders, unique riders with a single strong skill and riders from countries not in demand.
Oh yes we will explore transfer options for a handful of American riders but I would be very surprised if we can pry any of them away with no riders to trade and little cash to tease with. Two of the young American prospects Joe Dombrowski and Ian Boswell have already been prominently discussed and they look like candidates for bidding wars even though AMEX will be the only American based team in the whole CT.
The release of the new database will ramp up our actual planning and help us focus on a strategy for the first days of the transfer season, but I suspect this will be a road with many turns.
Now if Dave or Levi want to build a strong relationship with the 3rd American team by allowing us to acquire a strong, young American rider for a reduced cost and the promise to develop some of thier young stars for the next 2-3 seasons we would certainly listen. When those contract talks are not going well think outside the box before you just sell to the highest bidder.
AMEXpc will gladly entertain any and all discussion about riders with any team. |
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| felix_29 |
Posted on 19-10-2012 14:27
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I think you´re forgetting Sram, Hollister and WWE who all have the USA as primary nationality, too. 
Great preview, though.
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| SotD |
Posted on 19-10-2012 14:42
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Nice thoughts about the coming season. Will be interesting to see whether or not you will get what you want, or if you have to shoot at whatever chance opens.
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 19-10-2012 20:12
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I did not forget the other American teams but they do not have the number of skilled American riders as Wikipedia and Cal Giant Berry Farms. They hold all the controls of the American riders.
I have no illusions that AMEXpc will not get many of the riders we would really like to have, but if getting everthing handed to you was what happened I would not be as interested in participating. It's not winning that drives me but the journey to the podium.
The ManGame has some fine managers and they are very knowledgable about the game and the built in synergies the game uses. They are also very knowledgable about the cycling community. I am for all serious purposes an upstart rookie.
I have been a TdF fan for the last 12 years and only in the last 5 a full tour fan. My lack of cycling expereince has to be overcome by hard work and and ability to find ways to maximize the riders I can sign. We will do the best we can with the riders we sign.
Like I said the road into the transfer season is unfamiliar and I am sure my plans will be like the switchbacks in the Alps - changing directions every couple hundred meters. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 21-10-2012 15:13
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Talbott on the Move?
The Seattle Post printed today that David Talbott is the target of a half local team. So far it is unclear whether he will be offered a new contract with AMEX. The question is, could he move to one of the new CT teams?
(kind of obvious which one i mean)
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 22-10-2012 11:56
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AMEXpc continues to evaluate thier D2 riders to determine which of them should be resigned to a 2013 contract. As we have previously stated:
Tareq Esmaeli has already agreed in principle to his 2013 contract.
Maher Hasanoui has also agreed to his 2013 contract.
This past week AMEXpc has decided that Rudiger Selig (GER), David Talbot (USA),
and Bart Veyt (BEL) are all still being evaluated with AMEXpc saying they definately have the funds to sign 1 more and possibly 2 of the 3.
Rumors that there is interest in some of these riders continues to surface. Tareq Esmaeli after winning his 2nd Quatari National Championship said his wife has been hoping they could transfer to a team with closer ties to her culture. A new German team was showing some interest in Rudiger Selig. Selig did not like the way AMEX used him. He was provided less than his maximum race days even though he out pointed thier #1 American sprinter. Finally David Talbot after suffering through 2 disastrous seasons of his team disbanding and then a major injury this past season keeping him of the roads. At the very end of the with little training and preparation he rode solidly in the U-23 l'Avenir. Talbot was quoted in his hometown newspaper that he "does not expect to return to AMEXpc. He suspects he will be moving during the transfer season. |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 22-10-2012 12:05
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Listen to your wife Tareq, she knows where they treat riders from Arabic penninsula well. 
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 23-10-2012 11:49
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Deleted
Edited by Mhaley45 on 23-10-2012 13:23
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 23-10-2012 12:22
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Looks like a dramatic situation, good luck in finding the new sponsors, that will better understand your policy. 
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 26-11-2012 17:21
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AMEXpc has announced that just three (3) riders from the 2012 D2 squad have been re-signed for the 2013 PCT season.
Tareq Esmaeli (QAT) is a two time National champion and was a major reason for AMEX promotion to the PCT. A solid climber with a blue coller work ethic, Tareq will return to cycling. Rumors link Esmaeli to Metinvest-Emirates as the transfer season approaches, but no matter where he rides he will be a strong domestic in the PCT.
Maher Hasnaoui (TUN) had an excellent rookie season in 2012. He far exceeded the team's expectations and his hard work and rapid growth earned him a new contract. Some cycling fans question this signing as useless. They feel Hasnaoui's all-around riding style will not suit him in a PCT domestic role. Speculation is that he may also be headed to the transfer market place.
Rudiger Selig (GER) struggled in 2012 and was not expected to be re-signed, but team manager, Martyn Haley, acknowledges that he missued Selig in 2012. Recent talks between the two seem to have settled thier differences and Selig has been promised a better racing schedule and an upgraded focus on sprinting in 2013.
Recent rumors whispered by Rocky Mountain water coolers, have AMEXpc looking to target Jason Donald the veteran time trial specialist on the Project 1t4i team. Manager Haley was overheard stating "We are not going to have the financial ability to sign big name stars with our salary cap and 17 or 18 players still to sign. We need to target 2 or 3 riders who can help us make our 2013 goals. Jason Donald of 1t4i comes to mind as a good match. Time trials were a team weakness last year and Jason can not only help us improve there, but he also could become a team leader on a team that is expected to be quite young.
When asked to comment on the Dombrowski sweepstakes Mr Haley laughed and said
"He is a great kid and we would love to sign him, but if the recent speculation can be believed he will be beyond our budget constraints. The team directors could all just be blowing smoke but only time will tell. Hell, maybe I should just throw out an opening bid of 500,000 Euros and make sure somebody will over pay for him. If I eat the 500K at least I will have a top climber in a couple of seasons."
Edited by Mhaley45 on 26-11-2012 17:54
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 28-11-2012 14:29
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Additional news has trickled out of the AMEXpc HQ overnight. Yesterday AMEXpc confirmed that they had re-sign three riders from the 2012 D2 squad.
Tareq Esmaeli
Rudiger Selig
Maher Hasnaoui
It was then assumed that the other 11 riders on the team were released. Late yesterday we heard that not all of the negociations had been completed. After trying to get confirmations for several hours, we did get a confirmation that two additional riders have been re-signed for the 2013 season.
Carlos Alberto Ospina (COL) was the second best point scorer in 2012. Ospina whose name had been rumored to be heading elsewhere for 2013, has signed with AMEXpc. Team Manager fought hard with the sponsors advisors. It is not clear wether Ospina was signed and will have a role with AMEX for 2013 or if he was signed at a low wage making him more attractive in the transfer market.
Bart Veyt (BEL) was also inked to a 2013 contract. This was not un-expected and finding him missing from yesterday's signing was a surprise. It appears all that held up Vety's signing was that he missed his flight from New York City to Salt Lake City yesterday morning. Not use to the traffic in and around New York City was his error missing his plane my mere minutes.
Veyt is expected to stay with AMEXpc in a similiar role to what he played in 2013. He is a steady rider on the flats and respectable on the cobbles. His real value is when he can jump into a breakaway. He has the stamina to help the breaks suceed as he showed with his two 2nd place stage finishes from breaks in 2012.
AMEXpc now heads into the transfer season with 5 riders in the fold all for minimum wage. Esmaeli and Ospina maybe headed for greener pastures, but AMEX feels comfortable that if those negociations flounder that the team will be fine with both of them staying.
Yesterday's PT re-signings have left some very interesting names in limbo. One name that surfaced as being potentially available is 1T4i's sprinter Kreder. It is no surprise that AMEX was hurt by not scoring many points in the sprints in 2012 and that they are actively seeking a higher quality Sprint leader. There are a lot of burners available but at what price. Kreder seems to be a better fit than most of the others. AMEXpc certianly plans to talk with 1T4i about thier plans for Kreder during the transfer season. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 04-12-2012 11:08
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AMEXpc announces thier 2013 HC race schedule. We are very please that we gained enterance to all 12 of our preferred races. Seven of them are One day classics and 5 of them are tours.
March 28-30 Corsica International
March 29 E3 Prijs
April 15 Phildelphia International
May 27 Berlin ProRace (Goal)
June 4 Criterium Hainlite
June 10-13 Eneco Tour (Goal)
July 7 Manx International
July 14-20 USA Pro Cycling Challenge (Goal)
August 2 Clasica San Sebastian
August 5-15 Volta Portugal
October 5 Giro dell'Emilia
October 16-20 Tour of Bejing |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 04-12-2012 11:29
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Heading into the 2013 Transfer season AMEXpc has five riders re-signed from thier 2012 D2 roster.
 Tareq Esmaeli 50,000
 Maher Hasnaoui 50,000
 Carlos Alberto Ospina 50,000
 Rudiger Selig 50,000
 Bart Veyt 50,000
Esmaeli was one of the better climbers in the D2 in 2012. He was very consistent in every race and earned points in both the D2 and in wildcard CT races. Tareq has express an interest in moving to a new team closer to his home.
Hasnaoui was a 1st year pro in 2012 and he exceed all expectation scoring over 50 points in the D2. He is an all-around rider with potential to be a strong CT rider or a solid PCT domestique in the future. He is very happy at AMEXpc and unlikely to seek a change.
Ospina was one of the top punchuers in the D2 in 2012. He will be a solid PCT domestique or he could be a strong CT rider. Carlos is happy at AMEXpc but he might be talked into joining a Columbian team.
Selig was not utilized well in 2012 as AMEX did not place any focus on sprinting. Selig was planning to leave the team until AMEXpc convinced him that sprinting will be a bigger part of our PCT plans. Rudy is very unlikely to leave AMEXpc.
Veyt is the classic breakaway threat. Good on the flats and a strong fighting personality. Twice in 2012 he took second places finishes out of a day long breakaway. Bart is looking forward to 2013 and riding in the PCT. |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 07-12-2012 19:11
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AMEXpc has taken over most of the 10th floor of the Great American Hotel. They are preparing for 2 weeks of the Transfer seaon. Team manager, coaches and trainers along with administrative staff, contract lawyers, financial advisors from American Express and secondary sponsors. At the far end of the floor is a room that has been stripped of it's hotel furniture and a full media broadcast room has been set up. The heart of the operations is the large banquet room which now houses a large conference table filled with phones, computers, and fax machines. Along one wall are three extra large portable white boards filler with AMEXpc's short list riders.
AMEXpc admin staff have been working all day getting everything unpacked, set up and operational. Staff, consultants and sponsors are arriving this afternoon. A final pre-transfer meeting is scheduled over dinner this evening.
AMEXpc has promised to periodically release media reports as the transfer season progresses.
In an unpresendeted move AMEXpc has agreed to allow a reporter from the ROCKY MOUNTAIN TIMES to be embedded with the staff.
On the bottom of the last white board were scribbled three questions;
Will Joe D top 1/2 a Million Euros???????
What are our chances to get a wild Card in the Tour of California in our 1st PCT season???
With so many elite sprinter avaliable how much with their value drop??? |
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 07-12-2012 19:42
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Will Joe D top 1/2 a Million Euros???????
Comfortably
What are our chances to get a wild Card in the Tour of California in our 1st PCT season???
75%
With so many elite sprinter avaliable how much with their value drop???
Some will go for a steal, some will be way overpriced.
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 12-12-2012 11:41
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AMEXpc is pleased to announce that five (5) Free Agents have been secured to contracts and that three (3) transfers have been completed. These eight (8) new riders bring the teams current roster to tweleve signed riders.
Danilo Kupfernagel (GER) is one of the quickest sprinter around. He come to AMEXpc as part of a new focus.
Bernhard Eisel (AUT) is a veteran of the PT and a very successful sprinter and cobbler. AMEXpc is looking for Eisel to be one of the teams co-leaders and the captain of the cobbles team.
Yannick Stoltz (LUX) did not expect to be riding in the PCT, but when AMEXpc came calling and offered him more money that he ever expect. He was more than happy to sign. His role on the team is yet to be defined, but with his excellent talents on the flats he could be expected to be the team's Pacer & Chaser.
Matti Breschel (DEN) will be Eisel's partner for the cobbles.
Robert Bush (USA) is the 1st American rider signed. He is signing his 1st professional contract. In 2013 he will be part of Eisel's cobbles team.
Tyler Farrar (USA) AMEXpc's top transfer target was secured from Wikipedia. Farrar is a high level sprinter who has been brought in as a team co-leader and the captain of the sprint team.
Matthew Busche (USA) was also transfered in from Wikipedia. Busche will be the top domestique on the hilly races.
Aggrey Sebright (USA) acquired in the same transfer with Matt Busche from Wikipedia. Aggrey is a time trial specialist.
AMEXpc is in negociations with several other riders and three of those may be finalized shortly. Free Agents Carlos Baredo, Patrick Gretsch and Procject 1t4i's veteran PT rider Sylvain Chavanel are all on the verge of signing. |
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
